Chapter 251: To Kill or Not to Kill Jia Zhangshi?

Jia Zhangshi's words.

It made a resounding sound.

A tone as if considering Qin Huairu.

But Qin Huairu herself didn't think that way at all.

Every family has its own difficult sutra.

The Jia family's affairs.

No one is clearer about Qin Huairu than she herself; Jia Zhangshi's pretended high-minded concern for her daughter-in-law is completely unfounded.

In Jia Zhangshi's heart, there is only profit—the Jia family's profit.

Someone who doesn't even care about her own granddaughter—how could she be good to her daughter-in-law?

Back when Jia Dongxu was still alive.

They gave her all kinds of cold looks, openly mocking and sneering, saying Qin Huairu was riding on the Jia family's glory, scolding her for eating their provisions while bearing them a money-losing granddaughter.

Jia Dongxu died.

Worried that Qin Huairu would abandon the Jia family, she became ever more lazy and slovenly, causing a ruckus throughout the compound, truly becoming detested by people and dogs alike.

Qin Huairu felt a weariness she had never known before.

She was tired.

But it wasn't just physical fatigue; her spirit also grew weak, and she couldn't muster any energy.

She was just a woman.

She also wanted to find a strong chest to lean on, someone who could back her up when trouble came.

She envied Shazhu's wife Yu Li immensely; late at night, lying on the kang, hearing Jia Zhangshi's snores beside her, her mind could not find peace.

They're both women.

Why is the gap so huge?

Yu Li was a city girl, but I was no less—before marrying Jia Dongxu, I was a renowned beauty for miles around, my doorstep trampled by matchmakers.

Since my conditions are no worse than Yu Li's, why is my marriage so bitter and sorrowful? As a widow, I'm bullied by my mother-in-law in every way, and even if I want to remarry, I can't.

A surge of resentment rose in Qin Huairu's heart.

That's just bringing up old matters again.

Wanting to remarry.

Jia Zhangshi is an obstacle that cannot be crossed.

In other words.

To pursue happiness, one must set aside Jia Zhangshi; even without her, even if I am a widow with Bangeng, Xiao Dang, and Huaihua as burdens, I still have a job at the Yagangchang and a welfare apartment in the Siheyuan, decent enough that if I said I wanted to remarry, many widowers or unsuitable bachelors would surely come rushing to marry me.

She's definitely a prized catch.

Qin Huairu clearly knows she is the Jia family's mainstay; if she remarries, the Jia family will cease to be the Jia family, and Jia Zhangshi will lose her excuse for being lazy and gluttonous.

Jia Zhangshi won't let that happen.

Only if Jia Zhangshi turned into a wooden person would she refrain from meddling and setting conditions over Qin Huairu's remarriage.

First, having a proper job.

Second, having a house.

Given these conditions, why would a man choose to marry a widow with three kids instead of going to the countryside to marry a maiden eager to move to the city—wouldn't that be more fragrant?

Jia Zhangshi sincerely does not want Qin Huairu to remarry.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have put forward such excessive conditions.

What to do?

Qin Huairu's body suddenly jolted, and the thought of the ill-fated Jia Dongxu popped into her mind—she knew exactly how he died, for Yi Zhonghai had once told her the details of his secret murder.

She inexplicably overlapped the images of Jia Zhangshi and Jia Dongxu.

Not knowing if it was from fear, she involuntarily gulped, her body trembled, and her clenched fists formed of their own accord.

Through the glass, she gazed at Jia Zhangshi, who was still praising herself as a good mother-in-law, claiming to wholeheartedly consider Qin Huairu, and she narrowed her eyes slightly.

This bastard.

Deserves to die.

Die!

Qin Huairu's heart jolted.

She was afraid.

Yi Zhonghai's plan back then was so thorough, yet it ended in failure, leaving him disgraced and dead; I must not follow in his footsteps, no matter what I say.

But as long as Jia Zhangshi doesn't die, Qin Huairu truly can't rest easy; she will have no chance to remarry, for Jia Zhangshi had made it perfectly clear to her from the start.

Even if Jia Dongxu is dead, Qin Huairu must stay in the Jia family to fulfill her filial duties; if she remarries, Jia Zhangshi will follow her as her former mother-in-law.

An open-armed threat.

Jia Zhangshi had said those words, and Qin Huairu has kept them in mind; precisely because of that, she dares not lightly utter her desire to remarry.

'If you remarry, the Jia family will collapse, I'll have no way to live, I'm dying anyway—what else could I not do? Don't say I'm shameless; I'll drag you down to death even if I have to.'

Just a few ordinary words.

They had Qin Huairu firmly under control.

Wanting to remarry.

We can't let Jia Zhangshi live easy.

Once this idea arises, it becomes an inescapable nightmare; even if Qin Huairu shakes her head hard, she still cannot drive the thought of Jia Zhangshi from her mind.

In a hazy daze.

Two little figures appeared.

The left little figure said this.

「Qin Huairu, Jia Zhangshi is a vampire clinging to you, madly sucking your blood. As long as she's here, you'll never have a good life. While you're young and employed, if you don't consider remarrying, do you really want to end up exactly like the deaf old lady in the back courtyard? Some things, if you bravely take that step, everything after can be easily resolved. 」

The right little figure echoed in agreement.

「Why won't Jia Zhangshi let you remarry? Isn't it because the Jia family relies solely on you to support it? You are the Jia family's daughter-in-law, that's true, but you are not the Jia family's slave. You toil outside to earn money and support the family, yet Jia Zhangshi, as your mother-in-law, idles away at home, eating your food, spending your money, bullying your children, scheming against you openly and secretly, slandering your reputation. You married into the Jia family, diligent and sincere, bearing them a son and a daughter, which is more than enough to repay them. 」

「Jia Zhangshi won't let Huaihua have an easy time. Huaihua is Yi Zhonghai's bloodline. Jia Zhangshi clearly knows this. When you're at home, out of respect for you, she might not mistreat Huaihua, but you will eventually have to go to the steel plant to work. Think about it, think carefully: if you go to the steel plant to work, will Jia Zhangshi bully Huaihua? She's a child under two—what does she know? 」

「The only way out before you is to remarry. You have a job, good looks, and can still bear children; surely someone will like a widow like you. It's definitely better than staying in the Jia family toiling like an ox or horse. I know what you're worried about—it's just Jia Zhangshi's threats. 」

「Jia Zhangshi's threats are nothing. Think of a way to send her away, unknown to people, unknown to spirits, known only to heaven, earth, and you. Afterward you will become the head of the Jia family; such an opportunity is rare, but you must not be indecisive—when it's time to act, you must act, send away Jia Zhangshi, send away Jia Zhangshi. 」

「It's not that you're unfilial; it's that Jia Zhangshi is holding you back. No matter what, we must send her away. Only then can you pursue your own happiness. 」